Modifier for phonograph sound boxes



3.a. BLOOD.

MODlFIER FOR FHONOGRAPH SOUND BOXES. AP'LlcATloN FILED MARA. w20.

'1 ,408,437., Patend Mar. 7, 1922.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BUR-R B. BLOOD, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BYr MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,TO JEWEL P-IONOPARTS COMPANY, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION' OFILLINOIS.

y MODIFIER FOR PHONOGRAPH SOUND BOXES.

Patented Mar. l7, 1922.

Application filed March 4, 1920. Serial No. 363,258.

To all whomz't may concern.'

Be. it known that I, BURR B. BLOOD, a citizen of the United States, andresident of Chicago, inthe county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful .Improvements in a lModifier forPhonograph Sound Boxes, of which the following is a description,reference being had to the accompanyin drawing, which forms a part of myspecification.

My invention relates to a device whereby the tones or sounds produced bythe reproducer or sound-box of a phonograph may be readily modified;that is the volume of the tones, reduced or moderated without, however,affecting the tone quality; the object of the invention being to providemeans whereby the modifying of the tones or sounds may be quicklyaccomplished without necessitating any change or alteration in thesound-box or reproducer, per se; the invention comprising means wherebythe tonesor vsounds may be modified without dissipating the tones as isthe case with many modifiers at present `in `use.

rlhe invention contemplates means adapted to be readily secured to anyof the well known types of sound-boxes at present employed and which maybe easily adjusted to the varying sized sound-boxes or reproducers inuse.

The objects and advantages of my invention will be readily comprehendedfrom the following detailed description of the accompanying drawing,wherein Figure 1 is a front elevation of a soundbox or reproducer withmy improved modifier attached thereto.

1figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1, lookingin the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the modifier, unattached to asound-box.

Y Figure il is a front elevation of a soundbox or reproducerillustrating a modified form of my invention.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view of a portion of the sound-box andmodified form of modifier mechanism shown in Fig. 1i.

My improved sound-controlling device or modifier is intended to beadjustable to the usual style of reproducers or sound-boxes at presentin use, which are usually provided with a circular `shell or casing 10,composed of front and rear portions'removably secured together to permitthe insertion of the flexible diaphragm or mica 11, which is usuallyfirmly held at the` perimeter between two non-metallic or rubber rings12, 12, as

shown in Figure 2. The shell or casing 10 on its perimeter is shownprovided with a pair of parallelly disposed and properly spaced apartlugs as at 13, 13, between which the cross-,head or piece 111 of thestylus-bar 15 is pivotally mounted, in order that the vibrations ormovements encountered by the stylus or needle (not shown), carried inthe socketed end of the stylus-bar may be freely transmitted to theflexible or mica diaphragm 11 by the upper end of the stylusbar 15 whichis firmly attached to the flexible diaphragm. The parts that have thusfar been referred to are the usual elements of a sound-box and thereforeneed no further specific description as they form no part of my presentinvention.

As is well known, the reproduced tones or sounds are the result of theflexing of the mical or flexible diaphragm 11 whereby varying degrees ofimpulses are set up in the air space or chamber within the soundbox,rearward of the mica or flexible diaphragm 11; the volume orl degreeofthe sound-impulses depending upon the degree of flexure or vibrationsimparted to the flexible or mica diaphragm 11 and the amount of flexingarea presented by the flexible or mica diaphragm 11.

My invention comprises a mica or flexible diaphragm-engaging member 16,which is preferably in the nature of a metallic ring provided with acut-out portion or opening as at 17 `for the passage of the stylus-barl5, which is usually secured at a central point on the diaphragm 11. The`member 16 is preferably of metal and thejlower surface or side disposedtoward the diaphragm 11 is provided with acushion 18 composed of softfabric or material which may be secured in any suitable manner to themember 16; as for example, themember 16 may be provided with a groove,disposed circuitously throughout the lower side', in which a ring ofrubber, felt or other soft fabric may be embedded, so that a more orless yielding pressure on vthe flexible diagraph will be Vprovided whenthe memberl 16 is forced toward the diaphragm. i

The member or ring 16 is secured to one arm of an angular lever orelement 19 which is pivoted at 20 between the bifurcations 21 of anattaching clamp 22.

The clamp or member 22 is intended to fit about th'e'ed'ge of the casing1Q of the soundbox so as to have the ring 16 disposed substantiallyparallel with the forward side of the flexible diaphragm. In order topermit the bracket or member 22 to be clamped onto the 4sound-box, thebracket 22 is shown provided with the two depending and spaced apartportions 23 and 24, which are adapted to engage with opposite sides ofthe casing as shown in Fig. 2; the spacing between the portions 23 and24 being preferably slightly greater than the thickness or depth of thecasing of the usual reproducer or soundbox. The portions or lugs 23 and24 are of length sufficient to enable suitable purchase 'on the casing;and the portion or lug 24 is shown preferably provided with a thumb orset-screw 25 which extends therethrough and is adapted to engage withthe casing of the sound-box when screwed inwardlyand thereby firmlysecure the bracket or clamp member 22 to the sound-box. The lobes orbifurcations 21 of the bracket' or clamp member entend slightly forwardof the lug 28 as clearly shown in Figures 2 and 3, soas to permit theAdepending 'arm of lever or member 19 and the member 16 to normally bedisposed slightly forward of the sound-box and out of contact therewith.The upper arm of angular member or lever 19 is disposed substantiallyparallel with the top of the clamp member or bracket 22. The lever orangular member 19 is so formed and mounted that the upper arm willnormally have spaced relation with "the clamp member or bracket 22, thusenabling` slight tilting movement of the lever 19 when desired.

Intermediate of the depending arm of the lever 19 and the lug or portion23 of the clamp member 22, I prefer to provide a small coil spring 26,see Figure 2, which tends to force the depending arm of angular 'lever19 and the member or element 16 away from the forward side of thesoundbox, so that the normal direction of movement of element 16 is awayfrom the flexible or mica diaphragm. The action of the coil spring 26will therefore cause the angular lever 19`to swing on` its pivotalpoint2O and induce the upper arm ofthe lever to move toward the bracket orclamp member 22. In order to control the action of lever 19 and'therefore regulate the 'relation of the member or ring 16 to thediaphragm, I provide the upper arm ofthe lever 19 with a thumb orset-screw 27, adapted to screw through a tappedopening which ispreferably arranged near the end of the arm sothat rapid and greaterregulation of the lever 19 and member or ring 16 be obtained. The screw27 is intended to screw through the upper arm of the lever 19 and engagewith the top or adjacent surface "of `the bracket or clamp-member 22; itbeing apparent that the farther the screw 27 is screwed through the arm,or rather the' greater the length of ,the screw disposed between thearmof the lever and the bracket or clamp-member, the greater will be theseparated relation between the bracket and the upperarm of the lever andtherefore the closer will the depending arm of the lever 19 and the ringor member 1G be moved toward the flexible or mica diaphragm 11 of thesound-box.

In practice, the modifier is secured to thc sound-box by placing thebracket or clamp member 22 at any convenient point on the perimeter ofthe sound-box, so that the cut-- out portion or opening 17 in the memberor ring 16 will coincide with the stylus-bar 15 ofthe reproducer, whilethe lugs 23 and 24; are arranged on opposite sides of the soundbox. Ihemodifier having been properly positioned,'thumb-screw `25 is thenscrewed inwardly into engagement with the rear side of the sound-box andthe bracket or clampmember thereby firmly held in position.

If it is desired to reduce or modify the vtones or sounds of aselection, 'namely if it is intended to diminish or soften the tones,the ring or member 16 is then'forced or made to move into contact withthe flexible or mica diaphragm through the proper turning of thumb-screw27, that is by screwing thumbscrew 27 inwardly against the bracket orclamp-member 22 so as to' increase the distance between the bracket andthe arm of the lever 19. This action will cause the' depending arm ofthe lever 19 with ring or member 16 tov be moved toward the: flexiblediaphragm; the amountfof pressure on the diaphragm determining thedegree of tone or sound modification. It is apparent, that the firmerring 16 is brought into contact with the diaphragm, the less flexingwill be possible through the action thereon of the Vso stylus-bar andYhence the softer or more subduedwill be the tones or sounds; as `therelation of the member 16 to the diaphragm will control the flexingarea'of the latter.

`I prefer to have the ring or member 16 disposed substantiallyconcentric with the center of diaphragm 11 and therefore have shown thering or member 16 as adjustably secured to the depending arm of thelever 19, so as to adapt themodifier to different sized sound-boxes.

In the exemplificatiomthe ring or member 16 is formed with a pair ofspaced `lugs 28, 28 between which the depending arin of the lever 19extends, and this armis shown1provided with a slot 29'disposedlengthwise thereof. y

A. set-screw 30 is disposed throughthe slot 29 of lever 19and screwsinto 'the member 1Gor lug thereof; so that after the ring 16 has beenpositioned so as to bring it substantially concentric with the centerofthe diaphragm, the set-screw 30 is then screwed tightly, causing itshead to firmly grip the lever on opposite sides of. slot 29.

In Figure ll show a modified form of my invention wherein the shell orhousing` of the sound-box l0, namely the front side of 'the rim portion,is provided preferably with a pair of spaced lugs 3l formed integraltherewith; the lugs aligned apertures to receive a pivot-forming member3Q whereby the angular member or lever 33 is pivotally secured in place,to permit the lever to4 oscillate in a direction substantially at rightangles to the front face of the sound-box.

The angular construction of lever 33 may be identical with theconstruction of the lever shown in Figure 3; with one arm of the leverbeing disposed transversely of .the periphery or rim of the sound-box.This transversely disposed arm is vprovided with an adjusting member orthumb-screw 34 adapted to screw through the arm of the lever and engagewith the rim or shell of the sound-box. The other arm, namely the armdisposed substantially parallel with the front face ofthe sound-box,terminates in the perimetric portion 35, similar to that shown in theprevious figures; the portion being preferably in the nature of a ringand provided with a slit or cut-away portion for the passage of thestylus-bar 15 of the soundbox. Inpractice, the lugs 3l; are disposed ata point where they will be located atV what may be termed the top edgeof the soundbox when the latter is in playing position, so that anypressure Caused bythe hand of the operator in manipulating theregulating member or screw 34 while the sound-box is traveling acrossthe record will be in a direction as not to interfere with the movementof the sound-box nor cause the stylus or needle to slide across anddamage the record. With the modifier pivoted to the shell of thesound-box, as previously described, manipulation of the regulatingmember or screw 34 and therefore adjustment of the modifier duringmovement of the soundfbox may be easily accomplished. The arm of thelever 33, provided with the portion 35, like in the previously describedconstruction, is

intended to be normally heldoutward or away from the front faceof-thesound-box" and therefore in spaced relation with the 'flexiblediaphragm Aof the sound-boi; by a suitablespring 3G which may bedisposed between the shell of the soundbox andthe arm of the lever at apoint beneath the fpiw so that the normal tendency,v of the spring willcause the arm ofthe lever' otal point- 32,

which is disposed transversely of the edge or rim of the sound-bonv tocome into close relation therewitlnexcept when the 'regulating member orscrew 34 is turnedk so as to have the inner end of the screw engage withthe being provided with` shell of the sound-box, which forces the armupward or away from the rim of the soundbox and thereby swings the otherarm with portion 35 toward the flexible diaphragm.

The constructions shown and described, l believe to be simpleadaptations of the invention, but modifications may be made in certaindetails which I believe would still embody the principles of myinvent-ion.`

What I claim is l. A modiiier of the class described, ccmprising, incombination with a phonograph sound-box having a flexible diaphragm andstylus-carrying member, a supporting bracket adapted to fit about theperipheral edge of the shell of `the sound-box, means whereby thebracket may be removably clamped in place, a lever pivotally secured tosaid. bracket so as to have one end thereof swing toward or away fromthe diaphragm of the sound-box, a diaphragm engaging ring adr justablysecured to said lever and provided with a cutaway portion for thepassage of thestylus-carrying member, and regulable means coacting withsaid lever and said bracket whereby the position of said ring relativeyto the diaphragm may be controlled. v

2. A modifier of the class described, comprising an attaching bracketadapted to clamp onto the peripheral edge ofthe Shell of a phonographsound-box, a lever pivoted,k

mentioned member is normally held awayfrom the iiexiblediaphragm ofthesoundbox', and means whereby said annular member may be brought intoengagement with the flexible diaphragm with regulable pressure; f

3. A modier of the class described, vcomprising, in combination with aphonograph sound-box provided with a diaphragm and a stylus-carryingmember, means adapted to litabout the peripheral edge of the shell ofthe sound-box with a portion thereof dis` posed 'into a plane forward ofthe plane of the front edge of the shell of the sound-box, -a leverpivoted intermediate of its ends on i said forwardly presented portionof said means so as to 'have one endl of the lever ex-r tend'forward ofthe front face of the sound- 'boX" and substantially parallel therewith,arr ring secured to said last mentioned end of the lever and providedwith a cut-away portionvadapted for the passage of the stylus# rlOO llO

carrying member, the under surface of said ring being provided withcushion-providing material adapted to contact with the dia` phragm ofthe sound-box, and regulable means whereby the position of said ring,

relative to the diaphragm, may be con-` trolled.

4. A modifier of the class described, comprising, in combination with aphonograph sound-box provided with a flexible diaphragm and astylus-carrying member, an attaching member adapted to fitonto theperipheral edge ot' the sound-box, said member being provided with aforwardly presented pivot-providing portion, an angular lever pivotedintermediate of its ends' to said portion so as to have one end of thelever dis-` posed in a radial manner forwardly s of `the sound-box, aring adpistablysecuredto said last mentioned end ofthe leverand adaptedto be concentrically arranged with thecenter ot the fiexible diaphragm,`said ring being provided with a cut-away portionadaptr-V ed for thepassage of the stylus-carry1ng member of the sound-box, and meanswhere-V by the position of said ring relative tothe iiexible diaphragmmay be controlled.

5. A modifier ot' the class described, com'- prising an attaching memberadapted to be disposed about the peripheral edge of a -pho.

nograph sound-box, said member havingxa pivot-providing portiondisposed` intol a plane forwardly thereof, an angular lever pivotedintermediate ot its ends to said portion, with the ends of the leverbeing disposed in proximity todifferent sides of said attaching member,a spring disposed inter-A mediate of one side of saidmemberand one endof said lever whereby the latte-r is normally held away from said sideof the member, a ring secured to the last mentioned end of said memberand adapted to be disposed forward ot the flexible diaphragm. .of asound-box, the; rear side ofsaid ringbeing provided with acushion-providing element, while the ring has a cut-away portion for thepassage of the styluswcarryingmember of the sound-box, and manuallyoperable means secured to the other end of said'lever whereby v the tiltof said lever andthe position of said ring relative to the flexiblediaphragm of the sound-box may be controlled.

6. A modifier of the class described, comprising an attaching portionadapted to t onto the edge of phonograph sound-box,

amember pivoted to said-portion so as` to adapt it to extend in a-radial direction inl front ot the sound-box, a circular memberadjustably secured to the first member and provided with an openingadapted forthe passage of the stylus-carrying,memberof asound-box,4means whereby said circular member is normally held in a forwardly swungposition, and regulable means where- `lby the circular member may beforced in a direction opposite to that induced by said lirst means.

7. A modifier ofthe class described, comprising a. phonograph sound-box,the shell or casing whereof is provided with a pair of spaced lugs, anangular member pivoted between said lugs so as to have one endof saidmember move at an angleto the front face ot the sound-box, said endterminating inan annular portion .or ring of smaller diameter thanrtheinner diameter Vof the peripheral ange at the `front ot the sound-box,said portion or ring being provided with a slot or cut-out portion forthe passa ge of the stylusbar of the sound-box and adapted to engagewith the flexible` diaphragm Aof: the soundbox and thereby provide asmaller fiexing area in the diaphragm', means whereby saidV portion orring is normally held out of contact with' the diaphragm,'and meanswhere by the position of said portion or ring relative to the Ydiaphragmmay be controlled.

8. A modifier of the class described, comprising, in' combination with a`phonograph sound-box having' a` flexible diaphragm, pivot-providingmeans arranged on the rim ofthe soundibox, meanspivotally secured tosaid first means so as to swingftoward and away from the diaphragm, saidlast means includingia perimetricfportion adaptedto provide arestrictedflexing area inthe diaL phragmk bounded by said portion, means wherebythe perimetric portion isyieldingly held out of operative position, andregulaV ble means whereby movement of the second meansmaybe controlledand the position of the perimetric portion relative to the diaphragmdetermined.

9. A modifier of the class described, com-v prising a sound-box providedwith a fiexible diaphragm, `the rim whereof is provided with apivot-providing portion,` means piv- Y the perimetric portion out ofcontact with,

the diaphgram, and regulable means oper atively connected with said armwhereby the position of the perimetric portion relative to the diaphragmmay be regulated;

BURR B. BLOOD;

,Witnesses G.'HEIDMAN. F. A. FLORELLE.

